By Irem Demir and Zeynep Yesildal
ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye on Friday formally arrested 15 of the 34 suspects detained earlier on charges of espionage activities for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, sources said.
The suspects, who were held during simultaneous operations in eight provinces and whose statements were taken by the police over the last four days, were presented in court after a health check, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to media-related restrictions.
The arrests took place after investigation by the Istanbul prosecutor office's Terrorism and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau, focusing on international espionage.
Of the suspects, 26 were referred to the on-duty magistrate's office with a request to be arrested for "political or military espionage.”
The judge's office granted the request for 15 suspects, and took the rest in judicial custody.
Eight suspects, sources said, were also handed over to the provincial immigration department for deportation.
Turkish authorities, including intelligence, police, and counterterrorism units, had detained the suspects alleged to have been involved in activities such as reconnaissance, surveillance, assault, and abduction on behalf of Mossad earlier this week.
Simultaneous raids across 57 addresses in eight provinces had resulted in their capture.
During the searches, a large amount of foreign exchange, unlicensed guns, and digital materials were also confiscated.
*Writing by Merve Berker